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What About Bob? Photos

Movie Info

In this comedy about a doctor-patient relationship pushed way beyond the office, Bill Murray plays Bob Wiley, a neurotic New Yorker struggling with a whirlwind of paralyzing phobias. When an exasperated colleague pawns the handful off on Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss), the psychologist has no idea his last appointment will follow him north to New Hampshire on a month's vacation. Bob takes to Dr. Marvin's latest book like no therapy before it, so the well-meaning pest tracks Marvin down at his lakeside summer home to further discuss his problems. But Marvin, preparing for an interview on Good Morning America and a few weeks of R and R, views Bob's stalking as highly inappropriate, and demands he return to New York. But Bob can't take even the strongest hint, and sets up camp with a neighbor to indulge in his own "vacation" -- from his problems. Meanwhile, Marvin's son Sigmund (Charlie Korsmo), daughter Anna (Catherine Erbe), and wife Fay (Julie Hagerty) take to Bob's loopy charm, which Marvin views as an irritating threat. Marvin's temperature rises as Bob insinuates his way into the family, helping Sigmund learn to dive and counseling the previously ignored Anna. As Bob's stock continues to rise, and his to plummet, Marvin becomes increasingly unhinged as the minutes tick down to the interview.

Above all else, What About Bob? addresses the way many a patient feels when his psychiatrist has the nerve to go away without giving a thought to his problems. Perhaps it is just one desperate cosmic cry for help. Then again, maybe it's a threat.

Audience Reviews for What About Bob?

Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus play off each other so well that I really believed they were those characters. When a man with issues get's assigned a new shrink just as that shrink is about to go on vacation with his family, he follows him all around to make himself better and overcome his phobia's. Due to this, unintentional hilarity ensues for them and I found myself busting a gut every minute. No, "What About Bob?" is not a masterpiece in an regard, but if you look at it as a straight up comedy then you can have a blast with it. Well-written, well-acted, and well-directed, this film is very solid all around, but there was just something about Richard Dreyfus's character that pissed me off. He never really has a full character arch and he becomes more and more of an annoying dick as the film comes to a close, almost to the point of me not caring about his character anymore. Overall, this a very very funny movie that I would highly recommend.

KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

Murray and Dreyfuss are great.

Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

½

A little rare jewel. A terrific, unique and obligatory comedy. Fresh.

Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

½

What About Bob? is one of those little comic gems that sort of came and went, and you don't really hear people talking very much about it these days. It was a staple for me when it first came out and I saw it often. There are some hilarious performances from both Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss housed inside a very funny story. It's marvelous that they got these two to do a movie together and it turn out so well. The only thing that seems off to me is the supporting cast. I always felt the family was a little off and the angry neighbors should have been given larger comic roles. Regardless, this is one of the funniest films to come from my childhood and I treasure it dearly.